Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



'J'. T. NEEDHAM.

ESPAT APPLICATION FILED MAYIO, 1909.

l PNEUMATIC D GH TUBE PPARATUS.

Pateted Nov. 2.2, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

EL NEEHAM. PNEUMATI DESPTGH TUBE APPARATUS.

' Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-sum1; z.

UNITED STATES PATENT or-irren.

JOHN '.r. NEEHAM, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR v'ro INTERSTATE PNEUMATI: TUBE COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW Yoan A coRPoRATIoN or NEW Yonx. Y,

PNEUMATICDESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

Application filed May 10, 1909. Serial No. 495,127.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. NEEDHAM, a 'subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the borou li of Manhattan, city, county, and State o New York, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, the diaphragm chamber of the motor controlling means being shown in section; Fig. 1a a detail sectional view of the Suction chamber for controlling the motor startinv means; Fig. 2 a verticaly sectional View o? the carrier transmitting device; Fig.

3 a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of the trans- -mitting and discharging terminals; Fig. 5

a plan view of one of-the transmitting ter-- minals; and Fig. 6 a transverse vertical sectional view of one of the transmitting terminals.

One of the, objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a plurality of transmittingterminals'v may be arranged on a single transmission tube leading to the cen tral station and providing `means ,atl the central station for drawing air through said tube and forcing it out through a plurality of tubes each of which lead to a station, a shiftable means being provided at the central station for directing the blast of air to any one of the outgoing tubes.

Another object of. the invention is to provide a power controlling means actuated from each receiving station whereby the blower, or other air moving means, will be stopped a predetermined time after the insertion of 1a cairier in any one of the many receiving terminals.

Referring tol the various parts by ilumcrals, 1V designates a single transmission tube leading. lfrom the various stations to the central station. This tube is provided with a. discharge Qthrough which all of the carriers are discharged at the central station. The outer end .\of this transmission tube is open and air is sucked or drawn through said tube by a rotary blower 3. F rom this V`blovera pressure pipe 4 leads to the central transmitting station o. the blower 3 forcing the :iufhrouejli said pressure pipe to the central station. Tt will, therefore, be seen that the blower sucks the air through pi e 1 and forces it out through pipe 4. he blower is driven by an electric motor 6, this motor being automatically controlled bya paratus which will be hereinafter described. Q

The transmission tube 1 is provided with a plurality of'receiving terminals or stationsl 7, each receiving terminal being provided-v with a hinged door S which closes the cal'- rier-receiving o ening 10. Inoperation'itht;

d0or-8 is lifte to permit a carrierito'. be dro ped lengthwise in the tube, as indicated in otted lines in Fig. 4, and then closed. A carrier dropped in any one ofthe receivf ing terminals will be carried through the tube 1 and discharged at 2 without interfering with the passage of an that may be in the tube.

From the central stationreturn tubes 115,;I I

y other carrier:

12, 13 and 14 extend to the receivingtetf minals or stations, one return tube leadi'ng-` to each station.. Each return tube is. `r0

vided with a suitable discharge termina, iv119;`

which delivers the carriers into the receiving basket or receptacle 16. `I prefer .tot a range the receiving terminals of the tltm'tr,` mission tube and the'dischar e terminals OELA the return tubes as shown in ig.'4. It'avilljy be noted that the transmission tube; is an f ranged below the desk or table top 17, the

door 8 being arranged torest'on a gt; 4 1 8 secured to the top of the deskl'?. rea ceiving baskets 16 are arranged. on theftop of the desk close'to the receiving Aterminal' and the discharge terminals 15 are arranged within said receiving baskets. This makes a very simple and convenient arrangement .of the receiving and .dischargin and does not interfere material use of the desk or table for other purposes.

The' side walls of the baskets 16 are recessed along their upper edges as' at 16* to with the terminals ,1

form carrier-holding devices' in which the carriers may be placed when not infuse. The sidewalls of the baskets are connected togetherby transverse rods `16" for'thepurpose ofbracing the basket and forming a protection for-the.l discharging terminals 15.

At the central station is provided :the transmitting device 5 rso Athat the pressire pipe' 4 from the blower may be conneved to any one of the return tubes. plish this I provide a horizontal circular plate 19 suitably seciu--- 1o the oentralsta To eccomif fait l tioii desk top. In\the 'center of thisfplatlill a pneumatic switch. 2O is swiveled, its `swiveled end being in direct and constant coniniunicatioii with the upper end of the pressure pipe 4,y said `pipe being connected `to, thc under side of the plate 19, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The pneumatic switch is in the form of. an arched pipe, the free or swing ing"`end of the pipe being flush with the upper surface of the plate 19 and carrying a slide 21. return `)tubes are connected to apertures 22 in plate 19. These apertures are4 arranged in' an'ai'c of a circle struck from the center of the pivoted end of the pneumatic switch, as indicated clearly in Fig. 1, so that by swinging said switch on its pivot the dis- -charge end 23 thereof may be brought over the end ofiany oneof the return tubes. By this means the pressure tube 4 may be connected to any. one of the return tubes and the carriers forced through said connected tube to the discharge terminal atthe distant end of said tube. The slide 21 extends laterally beyond the switchv 2()` sulliciently to prevent,` the uncovering of the return tube until the swinging 'end' of the switch has y been moved beyond the' end of the return tube. This is of advantage for the reason that it is not 'desirable to uncover' the re! from the switch. y e

I have foiuid that'an apparatus constructturn tube whileair is being blown therein ed as described is so economical in the use of power and operates with such a low air pressure in the tubes that the motor and blower. ma be o )erated constantl i. I re- .Y l l 5 P fer however to rovide an automatic motor starting and stopping means adapted to be operated from each of the receiving ter-y minals on the transmission tube. To this end I provide a small suction pipe 24 leading from all of the receiving terminalsto the motor controlling means.l At each receiving terminal is mounted a small diaphragm chamber 25 having mounted therein a diaphragm 26, said diaphragm chamber being connected by pipe 27 with the suction tube 24, as shownin Fig. 1. The diaphragm 26 is normally collapsed and closes the endY of the pipe 27, as shown in Fig. 6. To the cen-l ter of' this diaphragm is connected a link 28 whose upper end is connected to the cover 8. It is clear that when the door 8 is openedH the diaphragm 2G will be lifted thereby sucking air through the suction pipe 24. A

In a convenient position near the motor 6 isV arranged` the pncumatically operated motor controlling apparatus. This motor controlling means consists of a main diaphragm chamber 32 in which is arranged a maindiaphragm 33. Connected to this chamber is an air exhaust pipe 34, said pipe being connected to pipe 1, as shown clearly in Fig. .1. The chamber 32 is provided with The central station ends of the pipe 27 and tion pipe 34'upon the opening ofY one of the 75 receiving doors 8 said diaphragm 37 will be moved and will swing the lever 36 on its pivot and open the inlet valve 35 of the main diaphragm chamber.

A pair of contacts 39 is arranged close 8o `to the end of the lever 36 and is adapted to be engaged by said lever, when the inlet valve 35 is opened, to close a circuit through the coil of a suitable starting solenoid 40.

When said solenoidv circuit is closed thef motor circuitis closedthrough the contacts 4l and the motor will continue to drive blower 3 until. `the solenoid circuit is interrupted.

l l Connected -to the main diaphragm 33 is a 9G pin 42 whichnormally engages a pair of` contacts 43,` said. contacts being arranged in' aisecond solenoid circuit. In the second solenoid circuit is arranged a pair of con'' tacts 44 which are adapted to be brought to- 95 f gether by the core v45 of the solenoid when said core is moved. by the solenoid'coil.'

At the receiving end of each return tube is arranged a diaphragm chamber47 vwhich is connected to the suction pipe 24 by pipe "100V 48, said4 pipe connecting all of the diaphragm chambers 47 `to the suction pipe as indicated in Fi 1. In the diaphragm chamber is arrange va diaphragm 49 which nornjially closes the end of the pipe 48, as shown 1 in Fig. 2. To this diaphragm is connectedv a lever 50 -whose free end extends into the returntube andis adapted to be engaged by the carrier when said carrier is laced in the tube. y It will bereadily scent at when said lever 50 is moved outwardly by a carrier the diaphragm 49 will suck, air through Apipe 48 .and pipe 24, thereby moving the' diaphragm {3S-and causin the operation of the motor. The motor, o course, will contiiiue to operate until sufficientvacuum is produced in the vacuum chamber 32 to open the solenoid circuit and thereby stop the motor.

The operation of the motor controlling lAZG means may be briefly described as follows lVhen any one of the teriiiinal.d=.iors 8 is opened its diaphragm 26 draws aintnrough the suctionpipe 24thercby moving inwardly the lever diaphragm 38 and opening the 12b valve of kthe niain--diapl'iragm chamber.

The movement of the lever 36 closes the solenoid circuit through the contacts 39 thereby completing the motor circuit and starting the blower to draw air through the transv 130 To the chamber 37 7o Lt o CJr

Clt

mission tabel and to vblow it out through the delivery tube 4. When the valve 35 of the main diaphragm rchamber is opened the diaphragm 33 will move-inwardly under the inliuence ofdspring 35, thereby permitting the contacts 43 to engage each other to close the second solenoid circuit. By this means the motor circuit will be held closed by the solenoid and the contacts 39 ma separate without affecting the'position o the solenoid and the motor lwill now continue to operate until sutlicient vacuum has been produced in the main diaphragm chamber to return the diaphragm 32 to its normal position and thereby separate contacts 48. AS soon as the terminal door 8 is closed the diaphragm 38 will be returned ,to its normal position and the inlet valve-35 will be closed. Vacuum will then be produced in the diaphragm chamber by exhaust pipe 34. The length ot' time required to develop the proper degree of vacuum may be regulated byy a suitable Valve 46 arranged in said pipe 34.

l loving thus described my invention 4what l claim as'ncw and desire to secure by Letters Patent isii 1 l. Afpneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising asingle transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminalsV in said tube separated a suitable dist-ance from each other, a 'plurality of return tubes, a blower, means for operating said blower to draw air through 'the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading trom the blower, a transmitting device connected to the receiving ends ot lall of the return tubes, and means Ator connecting the pressure pipe ,from the' blower 'to the receiving end ot anyone of tix-o return tubes.

2. .'i.. pneumatic despatchy tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality ot receiving' terminals in saidtube, a plurality ot' return tubes, a motor, `means 'tor driving said motor to draw air througli the single transmission tube, a pipe con' nectcd to the 4pressure side of said blower, and movable means connected to said pipe. and adapted to direct the air to the receiving end ot any one ot the return tubes 3. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality et receiving terminals in said lube, a plurality of return tubes, a pressure pipe, a blower, means to operate said blower to draw air through the transmission 4tube and torce itthrough the pressure pipe, kand a pneumatic switch connected to the' pressure pipe and adapted to be'connected to the receiving end of anyone of the return tubes.

4. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising 1 a single transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminals 1n said tube, a plurality of return tubes, a pressure pipe,

a blower, means to operate saidA blower to draw airpthrough the transmission tube and force it through the pressure pipe, a pneumatic switch connected to the pressure'pipe and adapted to be connected tothe receiving end of any one of the return tubes, and a slide carried by'said pneumatic switch and adapted to extend laterally beyond the end of thes'witch,. y

5. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a. single transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminals in said tube separated a suitable distance from each other, a plurality of return tubes, a blower, means for operating said blower todraw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower,

means for connecting the pressure pipefromthe blower to the receiving end o any one of the return tubes, a timing device for said blower operating meansand means at each receiving terminal to independently set said ,timing device.

A, pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising` a single transmission tube, a' plurality of receiving terminals in said tube separated a suitable distance from each other, a plurality of return tubes, a blower, a motor for operating said blower' to draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower, means for connecting the pressure pipe from the blower to the receiving end of any one of the return tubes, a timing device for the motor operating means, and means at each receiving terminal to independently operate the timing device.

7. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a pluralityof receiving terminals in said tube separated a suitable distance from each other, a door for each of said terminals, a plurality of return tubes, a blower, means for (,peratmg said blower to draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower, means tor connecting the pressure pipe from the blower to the receiving end ot any one oil the return tubes,| a timing device for said blower operating means, and means actuated by each terminal door to independently set said timing device.

S. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a transmission tube, a receiving terminal therefor, a blower for moving air therethrough, a motor for opel-aliner said blower, a motor circuit, a suction chamber,

a diaphragm in said chamber, meansopcrated by said diaphragm to close the motor circuit, a suction pipe connected to the suction chamber' and leading to the receiving terminal in the transmission tube, and means at the receiving terminal to draw air through said suction pipe.

9. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a transmission tube, a receiving terminal tlierei'ir, a blower for mp'ving air therethrough, a motor for operating said blower, a motor circuit,` la suction chamber, a diaphragm :n said chamlf' r, means operated by said diaphragm lo close the motor circuit, a suction pipe connected to the suction cl amber and leading to the rece-iying' terminal in the transmission tube, a diaphragm chamber at' the receiving terminal comiecte l to the suction pipe, a liaphragm therein normally closing the end of the suction pipe, means for nuiving said diapli 'agin to draw air through the. suction pipe to operate the motor controlling means.

l0'. le pmeumatic despatch tube appa 'alus comprising a, transmission tube, a receiving terminal therefor, a door tor said terminal, a blower for nioving air therethrough, a motor it'or operating saith blower, a motor circuit, a suction chamber, a diaphragm in said chamber, means operated by said diaphragm to close the motor circuit, a suction pipe connected to the suction chamber and leading to the receiving terminal in the transmission tube, a diaphragm chambe at the receiving terminal conncctwl tothe. suction pipe, a .liaphragm therein norumlly closing the end o't the suction pipe, and means connected to the d iaplnfiurm and to the receiving terminal door to d 'aw air through-the suction pipe and operate the motor controlling means.

ll.. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single trlmsmission tube., a plurality ol receiving terminals in'said tube, a plurality oi" return tubes, a blower, means for operating' said blower to draw air through the single transmissimi tube, a pressure pipe `leading' vtrom the blower, means for connecting the pressure pipe to the re-l ceiving end yot any one oi. the `return tubes, a timing` device for tliennotor operating means, and means at the receiving end ot' each return tube for independently operating the timing device.

1:?. A. pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality 'ot receiving terminals in said tube, a pluralitylof return tubes, a blower, means for operating said blower to draw airthrough the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower, means 'for connecting the pressure pipe to the receiving end oi any one of the return tubes, a timing device for the motor operating means, and means in the receiving end of each return tube adapted to be operated by the insertion of a carrier to independently operate the timing means.

A13. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatusI comprising a transmission tube, a receiving terminal therefor, a blower tor moving air through said tube, a single suction pipe leading from the 'receiving terminaba dia phragm chambe.' at the receiving terminal and connected to the suction pipe, the diaphragm therein normally closing the end of the suction pipe, a terminal door, a link con-f central station, a plurality of return tubes.

extending from the central station to thereceiving terminals in the transmission tube, a blower, means for operating said blower to d 'aw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower of the central station, means at the central station for connecting the pressure pipe to the receiving end of any one of the return tubes, a timing device for the blower operating means, and means at the central station -t'or operating said timing device.

15. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a'single transmission tube eX- tending to the central station, a plurality of receiving terminals in said tube adapted to receive carriers to be transmitted to the-eentral station, a plurality of return tubes, one oi said tubes extending from the central station to each'of the receiving terminals in the 'transmission tube, said return tubes being normally open at both ends, a blower, m ans for operating said blower to draw air through the single `transmission tube from end to end thereof, a pressure pipe leading trom the blower 4and means for connecting the pressure pipe from the blower to the receiving end oi any one of the return tubes.

1G. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube con-- necting a plurality of. stations with a central station, aplurality of' receiving terminals in said tube at outlying stations, a plurality of return tubes, one of said' return tubes connecting the central"stat ion with each of the voutlying stations and terminating adjacent to the receiving terminal in the transmission tube, a blower, means for driving said blower to draw air through the 'single transmission tube, a pipe connected to the pressure. side ot the blower, and movable means adapted to connect said pressure pipe to thel receiving end ot' any one` of the return tubes- 17. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube connecting a plurality of outlying stations'with a central station and having an air inlet beyond the last station on the line, a plurality of receiving tern'iiuals in said tube, oneat each station, a blower connected to the said tube at a point beyond the central station, means for operating said blower to draw ran through said: transmission tube, a plu- N@of return tubes, one of said tubes exfrom the central station to each ,he outlying'stations, both ends of said '235mm tubes bein normally open and disinnected from' t e air moving means or Ablower andfthe central station end of each fof. Said taibe'sV being adapted to receive cary. riers, a pressure pi e connected to the 1Y0 blowerrndf'ineans a apted to connect the dlSOha-ige endof said pressure pipe with thecentral station end of any one of the "Luieturn tubes.

, l18. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminals in said tube, a central station, a plurality of return tubes extending from the central station to a point E-iuljacent the receiving terminals in the transmission tube, a blower, a motor for operating Said blower to draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading vfrom the blower to the central station, means at the central station for connecting the pressure pipe to ine receiving end of any one of the return tubes, a normally open motor circuit, an air controlled means for opening and closing said circuit, means at each i'eceivingterminal forl operating the motor circuit controlling mea'ns to close the circuit to start the motor and means whereby said motor controlling means will be returned to its normal inoperative position through theA action of the blower. -l.5 V1 9. -A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a 'single transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminals in said tube, l@ central station, a plurality of return tubes extending from the central station to a point `adjacent the receiving terminals iu the transmission tube, a blower, a motor for operating said blower to draw air through the v single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower to the central -sta- ,45 tion, means at Ithc central vstation for con iiectiiw the pressure pipe to the receiving end of any one. of the return tubes, a normally open motor circuit, a motor circuit con-I `trolling means comprising a diaphragm, nie-- chanical Vmeans for moving said diaphragm in one direction to close the motor circuit, a casing or shell inclosing said diaphragm, and an air pipe connecting said diaphragm chamberto the exhaust side of the-blower whereby air will be gradually exhausted from said chamber and the diaphragi'n returned to its normal position toopen the motor circuit. v i

20. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality ot receiving terminals in said tube, acentral station, a plurality of return tubes extending from the' central station to a point .adjacent the receiving terminals in the transmission tube, a blower, a motor for operf atin said blower, to draw air `through the sin le transmission tube, a pressure pipe lea ing from the blower to the central station, means at the central station for connectin the pressure pipe to the receiving 'end of any one of the return tubes, a normally open motor circuit, a motor circuit controlling means comprising a diaphra 1n, mechanical means for moving said iaphragm in one direction to close the motor circuit, a casing or shell inclosing said diaphragm, an air pipe connecting said dialiragm chamber to the exhaust side of the blower whereby air will be gradually ex' hausted from said chamber and the diaphragm returned to its normal position to open the motor circuit, and an adjustable valve in said pipe.

2l. A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality of receiving terminals in said tube, a central station, a plurality of return tubes extending from the central station to a point adjacent the receiving terminals in the transmission tube, ya blower, a motor for operating said blower to draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the Lower to the central station, means at thc central station for connecting the pressure pipe to the receiving end of any one of the return tubes, a normally open motor circuit, a motor circuit controlling means comprising a diaphragm, means for moving said diaphragm in one direction to close the motor circuit, a casing or shell inclosing said diaphragm, and an air pipe connecting said diaphragm chamber to the exhaust side of the blower whereby air will be gradually exhausted from said chamber and the diaphragm returned to its norm-.il position to open the motor circuit.

22. A pneumatic despatch tube vapparatus comprising a single transmissionV tube, a plurality of receiving tern'iinals in said tube, a central stiition, a plurality of return tubes extending from the central station to a pointadjacent the receiving terminals in the transmission tube, a blower, a motor for operating said blower to draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipo leading from the blower to the central station, means at the central station for connecting the pressure pipe to the receiving endofj'any one `voffthe return tubes, a normally Aopen motor circuit, a motor circuit 1,20 controlling means comprising a diaphragm, la casing or shell inclosing said diaphragm, an inletvalve for said casing, an exhaust pi e connectedto said casing on the same siclb of the diaphragm as the inlet valve, said'pi e being connected to the exhaust side .of the blower, means to open the inlet valve, meansv to close the motor circuit when the inlet valve is opened, and means to open the 'motorzcircuitwhen the reoplred degree d 130 vacuum is produced chamber.

23. `A pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising a single transmission tube, a plurality o'l receiving terminals Iin, said tube, a central station, a plurality of return tubes extending from the central station to a point adjacent the receiving terminals .in the transmission tube, a blower, a motor for operating said blower t0 draw air through the single transmission tube, a pressure pipe leading from the blower to the central station, means at the central station for connecting' the pressure pipe to the receiving end of any onev of the return tubes, a normally open motor circuit, a motor circuit controlling means comprising a diaphragm, a casing or shell inclosing said diaphragm, an inlet valve for said casing, an exhaust in the diaphragm pipe connected to l l l l side ofthe diaphragm as the inlet valve, said pipe being connected to the exhaust side of the blower7 a lever connected to said inlet valve, means adapted to be operated from the receiving terminals to move said lever and thereby open the inlet Valve7 electrical means operated by said lever toclose the motor circuit and means to open the motor circuit when the required degree'of vacuum is produced in the diaphragm chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afHX my signature in the presence of two rwitnesses this 3rd day of May 1909. i 'f JOHN T.V NEEDHAM. lVitnesses A l WM. R. Ijiivis, E. H. H. KAUFMANN.

said casing on the same 20 

